Tradition 5 – Jeff – 2020 New England Big Book Workshop Weekend

my name is julie and i'm an alcoholic welcome to breakout session called tradition five primary purpose recharged with jeff w he's from worcester mass this session will run for 45 minutes the format is that the facilitator will share their experience for 10 to 15 minutes on the topic and then open it up for you to share your own experience or ask questions everyone is encouraged to participate please join me in welcoming jeff i can hear you no clapping but i can see you all hi i'm jeff i'm an alcoholic and my sobriety date is may 8th 2017 um i'm grateful to be asked on to speak on this retreat i mean i love the uh zoom breakout rooms it makes it a lot more uh personable you know um and when i got asked to speak on tradition five i was like oh i don't attend tradition meetings and uh i got a little nervous but um usually when i get asked to speak on something um the fear kicks in and then you know i kind of i kind of started doing a little homework on this tradition and um i found out that it was very important um for you know for like my home group for an for an example um to be following this tradition and practicing it um because i was attracted to all aspects of this so i'm going to read the tradition real quick um and just go over a few things just in the wording um each group has but one primary purpose to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers um you know i go back to each group the group consists of of members of alcoholics um and the one primary purpose is you know to me it means one there's one single purpose you know and that single purpose is to keep us from um avoiding distractions you know we have to um stay focused on what our message is so the next phrase it goes to to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers i'm gonna skip over its message for one second but you know to me um the alcoholic who still suffers could mean um an alcoholic um still in active alcoholism still drinking um it could mean um a newcomer who's um at its his first meeting you know and it also could mean someone with years of sobriety who is still suffering from alcoholism um so there's a lot of things involved in um you know when i see the alcoholic who still suffers um so now i go back to carry its message so when i first read this i'm like oh well the message is the 12 steps you know and that's that's kind of you know what i thought for a long time i do practice the 12 steps and um i thought like that's the most important message and you know until i started really looking into you know this tradition um i realized that there was a lot more um faith and constancy um to not just the 12 steps um they there was a sense of attraction um that attracted me to this program and to be helpful um so i go back to its message alcoholics anonymous message um to me is the three legacies you know we have we see it on our coins we have recovery unity and service okay um for me it was i think my first record� me, the recovery, um, part, you know, is the 12 steps. Okay. That's one of the parts of recovery. Um, I feel that, you know, my, my experience going to my home group, um, there was a lot of people talking about the 12 steps. They talk, we're talking about spiritual experiences. I didn't quite understand at the time, but I knew that these people were, were happy. Um, they were kind, they were, you know, you could just tell that they had some honesty about the way they carried themselves. Um, they were very helpful and I, you know, that kind of led me to believe that, you know what, like this, this something with, uh, taking action and doing this work, um, you know, other, um, ways inside a group, um, for that message. Recovery, um, is just people sharing experience, strength, and hope. You know, I remember going into my home group where there was, um, most of the, the group members would kind of sit in the front. They wouldn't be like in the back on their phones and this going in and out of the meeting. They were the first couple of rows were, um, people that were practicing, um, these principles and, um, you know, just from group members, sharing their experience, um, I was able to, um, identify with, um, and the experience, strength, and hope, you know, and just from, you know, group members raising a hand and, and continuing, um, that was me receiving, um, a message, um, loud and clear. Um, you know, I also witnessed, um, I was attracted to the, the sponsorship families, that were, were, was happening, um, inside this group. And, you know, I would, I would, my first couple, my first meeting, my sponsor, I was a couple weeks sober and my sponsor brought me to my home group and there was at least a dozen cars out in the parking lot. Um, you know, there was guys, um, you know, reading books to other men and women with other women. And like, I'm asking my sponsor, like, what is this? Like, these are people, um, members who have been through the 12 steps that are passing it on, you know? And I mean, there was just something about it. Like just, I just felt something like some connect connectivity, you know, it was just, you know, that also was a sense of a message to me saying, you know what, like something, there's something about this, something works. And, um, you know, as I kept coming, um, I, I could see, you know, just, um, the, the community, just flourishing with this solution. Um, so with the 12 steps, the recovery part, um, uh, it is basic directions, um, from the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous, where it is easy to pass on. It's like a recipe passed on from your great grandmother, pass on your grandmother, pass on your mom, and you're making the same recipe throughout your family, um, to get a great dinner, you know? And basically, to me, the, the, the steps is something that is directions in the book, um, was passed to me, and I am able to, you know, take these directions and pass them on to someone else to, for them to acquire a spiritual experience. And that is, um, something where these are the group members that I was attracted to, people that had this, this, um, spark in their eye, you know, and they, um, were the ones raising their hands for sponsorship. So that recovery part of the three legacies, um, is a, is a huge part, um, in its action. And now I'm going to get into the unity. Okay. So the unity is another thing that attracted me early on and thank goodness that I found a group that was, um, big into fellowshipping. Um, because when I first came out, I did not think that I could have fun sober. I did not think that I could even, you know, have conversation sober. You know, I was always under the influence and, you know, this, uh, my home group did monthly events and I was attracted to that, you know, um, that there was a message in that to me, giving me hope that I could, um, come out from this hopelessness and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and be happy and joyous and free as I saw them. Um, so a lot of things, um, you know, at first I remember, um, that, you know, I'm a firm believer of like leading by example, you know, and I feel that, you know, you know, my sister said to me early on, if you want what we have, do what we do, you know, and I took that, you know, so I saw these people that were going to events, um, and, you know, my, my group did a lot of camping. And I never really liked camping and stuff, but my first camping trip with my group, um, I was around 50, um, sober alcoholics who had very similar experiences with, uh, of me. And, you know, we're able to like have fun. And, um, to me, that message like hit home and that message kept me going for so many, um, for so long, you know? Um, and, and the, the service part of the three legacies, um, you know, another thing that my home group, um, you know, my home group has business meetings and another thing early on in my sobriety, my sponsor suggested I go to a business meeting and get a job in a home group. And I had no idea what a business meeting was, but, um, now I understand like that is, that was keeping the primary purpose in line, you know? Um, the group conscience, um, and, you know, that, that had a sense of, um, being helpful also, you know, uh, my first job was a greeter. Um, it was a simple job. Um, you know, I just said, Hey, welcome. My name is Jeff. And, you know, the people, when I first came into the group and I had a greeter there, um, I remember thinking like, wow, like this guy just greets everybody doesn't know him. And I was kind of quiet. When I first came in and like scared and, uh, that gave me hope just to see people doing this, the service work within the group, um, people that were sharing meetings. I remember saying to myself, I could never share a meeting, um, and get in front of people and speak. And, but, you know, by them leading, uh, that example, um, gave me hope, you know, and, uh, that's all I did. I just, you know, I, I took it all in and I listened and I took suggestions and, um, you know, like I said, if it wasn't for the group carrying, um, the message and the, all, all aspects of, you know, this message, I don't know if I'd be here, you know? Um, and, you know, just to talk briefly on, um, how this pandemic has, has hit because a lot of the things I just talked about, um, you know, a lot of people I know have stopped coming to meetings. Um, a lot and, you know, a lot of people got impacted, you know, but thankfully, um, God has, has given us zoom and, you know, in access to internet and all this stuff. Um, because the, the, the suffering is the most important person. And, you know, right away when this happened, uh, my home group, we all got together and we had to figure out how to get, our meeting onto, um, this virtual platform. And we had a business meeting, like, like nothing, the, the unity, like nothing could stop us, you know? And that I believe would give hope to anybody, you know? And, you know, the same as the people before me, like, you know, just, just taking action, constantly taking action and, um, following the principles and the traditions. Um, so. You know, a lot of the things too, like a lot of people miss like fellowshiping, um, because of the pandemic. Um, you know, we've been able to host, um, you know, um, events, we had a virtual jeopardy, right. And like, you know, at a group level to have, um, these, these social events and having fun behind, um, a computer screen is just, it's an amazing feeling. And, and I think that, um, you know, it's, it sets an example. And I think just even something like that would give, um, you know, a newcomer or someone struggling hope that, you know, what we're still recovering. Um, and some of the service work too, uh, you know, my, my, my home group, um, does commitments. They did commitments early on. And I remember when I first, um, came sober, um, they took me on a commitment and I remember sharing my experience, strength and hope, you know, and I didn't have, um, the 12 steps to pass on. I didn't have any of that experience, but I had my own experience, my hopeless condition. And, um, you know, I went to a detox and I ended up, um, just sharing my story, you know, and people afterwards come up and they say, wow, thank you, um, for sharing, you know, you helped me. And like, you get this sense of like being helpful, you know, and if it wasn't for, my group that, um, did these commitments, I, I maybe would have never felt that, you know, sense of, um, you know, sense of carrying the message. Um, so with, um, just back to the virtual part of, of this is, you know, is, um, my home group still does commitments, um, to facilities, um, via zoom, um, you know, all this is possible to send a message in all aspects, um, of the legacies, um, whether we're on zoom or we're in person. And, you know, I just, you know, I think back to like, um, a message that I would like to hear if I was brand new, you know, what I wanted to say, um, the, um, what I, what I wanted to attract a message to say, like, dear Jeff, um, stay sober, keep coming. Or what I want a message to hear, um, dear Jeff, if you, if you do this work and take action, you'll be rocketed into the fourth dimension of existence, um, beyond anything you could possibly know, you know, like that's, that's the message. And, um, that's what attracted me to the, the program, Alcoholics Anonymous, the group, and, um, keeps me, um, able to, to transmit this message. That's all I have. Thank you. Thank you so much, Jeff. It was so good to hear you. I'm Julie. I'm an alcoholic. Um, we're going to open this session up now for discussion. And if you would like to share your own experience or ask any questions, please raise your hand in the participant list. And when I call on you, you'll be able to unmute yourself and you'll be able to speak. Would anyone like to, um, share their thoughts? I'm not, I'm, oh, Kathleen, go ahead. You know what? I saw Aaron's hand go up. So I'll wait. Go ahead, Aaron. Thank you. Hi, everyone. It's Aaron, a recovered alcoholic. Thank you. Um, yeah, no, I appreciate Jeff. I mean, I, I know Jeff. So, uh, so some of this is, it's repetitive type stuff, but I think it's really important to, for me to like, get into the traditions too. Like, um, so there was, you know, there's one point I have these steps and I have this recovery process, but there's a, another layer to being a member of Alcoholics Anonymous, except for, um, having that spiritual experience and these traditions aren't rules, right? They, they, they lay out. I mean, we've, we've got the traditions through bitter experience, very similar to, to the steps. And, uh, and I find that these traditions, as I started practicing them, I actually started getting along a little bit better with the people around me. And, uh, and I, and I liked how you talked about it. So what you get that, you know, um, each group has one primary purpose dash to carry its message for the alcoholics still suffers. And one of the things I really appreciate about when I started getting into traditions is that like, there are over 200 different 12 step fellowships out there type stuff. And we've got to find out what, like, what it is our message. I mean, is it, is it, you know, is it, is it, you know, just don't drink, go to meetings, ask for help. Is it, um, you know, whatever, whatever spirit, if you have a spiritual malady, come on in type stuff. That's our message is to, is to treat your, your anxiety and your depression. But I find that we, if we, you know, if we stick to what, you know, what's late, what's late in front of us. Right. So especially with the traditions too, it's like, just like the steps, I think the traditions are in order for a reason. And, you know, we would jump in at tradition five. So we kind of skip over one, two, three, and four. But once I, once I started going through those and, and, and I would love to say on day one, I started off and did all the traditions and all the steps and, and just, and then by Friday I was wonderful. But again, the traditions for me was also a long ongoing process to try to see how they would help me. And I didn't come to traditions because, uh, I'm a, I'm a pure good guy. I had some conflicts and difficulties and, uh, in the traditions, uh, have really helped me to, um, clear away the wreckage will say, and, and again, having, but one, you know, but one primary purpose. And, uh, I think it's far better than having a kind of like the 12 by 12 says, uh, shoemaker stick to their own task. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So instead of trying to help everybody with all these different problems, we're able to, uh, it helps us narrow it down so we can at least help somebody because, uh, I find for me a group that helps everybody ends up, ends up helping nobody. So, uh, so thank you very much. Thank you, Aaron. So we'll go to Kathleen B next. And then after Kathleen, we'll go to Diane. Hi, I'm Kathleen. I'm an alcoholic. Um, I'll be brief cause I want to hear other people. Um, I just, a couple of things I've heard people talk about when it comes to like primary purpose and like carrying this message is that, um, it's really indicative of a group. Like when you come into a group and you've never been there before, which I've had that experience, I've had the experience of being a newcomer, but then I've also had the experience of being sober for like a period of time and then going to a group, um, a meeting for the first time and like being greeted right away, you know? Like being, um, welcomed in as like a potential newcomer. Cause we just don't know like where people are at. And, uh, I know like the meeting that Jeff was talking about when you shared and I know about my home groups. Um, like we have a really important job and like we are carrying this message, um, to people who have like a soul sickness. And I just like, I feel like we never want to miss it. We never want to miss that opportunity to like, somebody comes in and like, they don't hear that message or they're not welcomed in right away. And like, that like breaks my heart because we know that we all, we all feel apart from that's a really big part of my disease is that I don't feel connected to you and I feel not good enough. So like when someone comes into a meeting for the first time, I don't really care if they're a day sober, they're 10 years sober. Like I feel like it's on us to make sure that we're not going to miss that opportunity. I feel like it's on us to make sure they know that they are a part of, and that we want them to be welcomed there to hear this message. So, and I'm so grateful because that's what everybody in AA did for me, like on day one. Um, so that's all I wanted to share. Thanks Jeff for, uh, for being of service for us today. Thank you, Kathleen. Diane, I see that your hand is up. If you'd like to unmute yourself. Is that okay? Okay. Good morning. Beautiful. I'm Diane. I'm an alcoholic. Um, I'm really enjoying this. A friend called me this morning, telling me about this. And I said, Oh yeah, I'll check it out. And I love the speakers. I love what's going on and this tradition here. And thank you, Jeff, by the way, for your service. Thank you everyone for your service. Um, this tradition reminds me of the 12th step, you know, because it's like in the 12th step, you're carrying the message of the recovering alcoholics or sick alcoholics. And it's like, you know, it's like, you know, you're carrying the message of the recovering alcoholics in our 1990s and 2000, the 12th step of transätzlich working for alcohol, uh, in, in building up the awareness. But it's not the same with the Sang November, when more than the way the conversation continued. Like it says like, in the reading here, this is firmly bound by obligation are the members of alcohol as an anonymous who have demonstrated that they can help problem drinkers. You know, you do, I laину do this by identifying, you do this by accepting them, you do this by loving them, uh, no years i have i'm still like the newcomer you know it's like i could still go out you know i never underestimate this disease you know so it's a matter of giving opening that door for them and giving them the key keywords like when i have sponsees i i don't like if they're newcomers i don't let them do the steps in the first year i just tell them like you know i said i came with the old timers you know it's like you take the cotton out of years and you just listen take this as a gift i don't want you pressured it's bad enough you got to put the drink down you know that you're like you don't want to put that drink down so i i want you to enjoy your recovery i want you to look at it like an adventure like i'll try anyway depending on the person and especially when they have problems with that third step you know it's like i have all these scenarios and all these things like when you walk into a dark room and you turn on the switch what happens you know and i'll always tell them that light always overpowers the job so think positive like any way that i can i will try i just let that other alcoholic know that i identify with them i relate with their situation because i usually do and it's like and i just give them the keys to sobriety that i have learned when i speak at meetings i don't i don't like to give the war stories you know i'll give i'll tell them where my alcoholism took me because i think it's very important that they know where it took me because i had a horrific ending but i tell them about my sobriety how i stay sober and that's what this tradition reminds me of we're unity that's why this program works and uh it's a spiritual based program so thank you very much enjoying this thank you diane so nice to hear you we're glad glad you're here nice to meet you um it's awesome i don't see any other hands yet um i wanted to take a moment to share my experience with this tradition as well um jeff oh sorry i'll introduce myself again i'm julie i'm an alcoholic jeff uh talked about unity um and he touched upon like how important it was to go to like some fun sober events and that was huge for me when i first came to this um this program because i also was like i i was convinced i couldn't live a joyful life if i wasn't drinking even though my drinking didn't bring me any joy at all anymore but i was convinced that if i um put it down i would never have fun again and i would never be happy again so I think i was like only a couple months sober and there was a event locally where there was a comedian at a um draft house and a group of us from from one of our meetings went together and it was my first time out sober and i was so nervous i mean that that whole day before the event we went to a meeting right before the um the comedy show as well and all day i was nervous about it and i was like oh my god i'm so nervous i'm so nervous i'm so nervous i'm so nervous i'm so nervous but i brought my husband with me who is um not in the program and he sat through the meeting with me and uh we went and you know with all all my ea family and i was like truly white knuckling it um and i did a few of those events and eventually i learned and i trusted that i would have fun again because my experience now i was growing and each time i went out sober i was like oh my god i'm so nervous i'm so nervous i'm so nervous i'm so nervous i'm so nervous i'm so nervous having a great time and i was having fun and i was you know feeling joy and feelings that positive feelings i hadn't felt in years so you know it was really um a great experience for me to have that unity and to be able to fill my heart again and to be welcomed into a group like kathleen had said too um you know many of us have that feeling of not feeling a part of and that was so true for me and i finally felt like i was a part of and i also felt okay with myself i was starting to feel okay with myself um and it's funny because they both kind of had like a parallel course when i started to feel okay about myself i started to feel more in included even though people always try to include me i just didn't feel you know in my heart that i was included or that i was worthy of being included right um so i just i really wanted to share my experience about that and how great it has been for me to be able to kind of like share my experience with my family and my friends and my family and my family and my family and my family and my family and my family and my family and my family and my family like safely learn how to have fun and sobriety and it really is awesome all right i see a couple hands up and i will stop now but pam l from new hampshire if you could unmute yourself please thank you my name is pam and i am an alcoholic um from manchester new hampshire jeff it was wonderful to hear you thank you for sharing your experience on the in this and you know when i first got sobered and i got a little bit of a hangover i got a little bit of a hangover and i i've been sober quite a while um my sponsor took me through the steps immediately and then she we worked on the traditions and we studied the traditions as a way of life as connected to the steps and in this particular tradition um it's important for me to remember that i am one part of a whole in the in the unity aspect but also that my my purpose in life today is to be part of and to carry the message of unity you know um when i i find that for me the traditions get me right with other people you know the steps get me right with me and god and the traditions get me right with other people because left to my own devices this alcoholic does not understand how to create a spiritual relationship with another human being or god you know and in the in the reading in the 12 and 12 and in the language of the heart and i would encourage anyone who's interested in the traditions to read the essays from language of the heart you know uh bill wilson talks about the fact that we do one thing and we need to do it well and that is to carry the message of hope and jeff you talk so much about that there is so much hope in the rooms of alcoholics anonymous but as i take this out into the world you know in my workplace and in my family i need to remember that the message that i carry is the message of love and and that i love the next alcoholic that i accept the next person you know as i sit in the board room or whether i sit in the rooms of alcoholics anonymous i am one of a whole i have love and compassion in my heart and when i carry that message i can find peace in my own heart and i understand better how to create healthy relationships when i'm not running the show you know so it's so important for me to use these traditions just as i would the steps you know my husband who has passed now we work the traditions in our home you know the fact that we were a unit and the unit had to survive before each and every one of us you know and the fact that that there we had one higher purpose a higher consciousness god is our understanding you know you know and so as we carry these messages you know the message that we carry is hope and love through recovery that we can stay sober and and these traditions are so important to guide our groups and our group conscience so thanks for letting me share and thanks for this conference it's been wonderful so far and i'm so appreciative thank you thank you so much pam it was nice to hear you kathleen jay in charleston south carolina would you unmute yourself so you can share thank you hi i'm kathleen alcoholic great to be here unfortunately i was in the tradition one so i jumped over here and um i just have something that um kind of a burning desire that's been on my mind for a few days and i have seen this girl in person meetings um probably a couple months and and and you know approached her and said welcome and introduced myself and gave her my phone number and and i hear her share that um and i can i can say it here i don't want to break any anonymity but um i'm in charleston but i hear her share um i have to drink every friday night i can't put the drink down on a friday night i have a tough time with that um then i hear her share i couldn't put the drink down friday night and i ended up in jail and then i hear her share well you know i'm still drinking and and i walked up to her after the meeting and i said i am so glad you're here and i'm so glad you're part of alcoholics anonymous do you have a sponsor and she said yes and i said well i hear you share that you're still struggling with um with um drinking and she goes well i like i i'm here because i like to hear the solution to the problem of drinking and you know i paused and i thought to myself the only requirement for a membership is a desire to stop drinking dad and i were talking in my room kingdom city you know there's apes Pride we're working towards anniversary שלマ peel c mio or zum blo curtains while we're cooking we are not drinking we are not drinking alcohol we are just dancing sondern обычно I want to carry the message, but I can't say to her, so have you qualified that you're an alcoholic yet? You know, I mean, you know, and maybe I can hear from the speaker or some other people on the subject because it's, you know, she's on my heart, right? Because I'm hearing the consequences, but I'm not hearing her put down the drink. Thanks for letting me share. Kathleen, thank you so much. I see a hand up, Erin L. Go ahead and unmute yourself. Hi, I'm Erin, I'm an alcoholic. I wasn't going to share because I'm waiting for an emergency doctor call. So I don't know what's going to happen if my phone rings, just putting that out there in advance. You know, I'm not really super familiar with the tradition. So I think this is a good opportunity to go, you know, to this retreat. To learn and hear from people about them. You know, I immediately, probably after maybe four or five months of being sober, started doing commitments and, but my experience has been all through Zoom because I got sober during the pandemic. So, you know, I did probably, I probably have done maybe a handful of commitments through Zoom and it was a really great experience and, you know, a lot. I enjoyed seeing the people reach out to me after that, that got something from my share and my story. And, you know, I think everybody has such a unique story to tell. And I think that even if you can't relate completely, you always can take a piece of that and it helps. You know, like last night, listening to one of the speakers, I, you know, immediately you think I probably can't relate to this guy. And I was like, oh my God, like, it's just, I felt it, you know, it hit home. You know, a couple of weeks ago, I did my first in-person, like where I told my story and I was terrified. And before I did it, I, you know, I prayed to my higher power and asked them to speak through me and, you know, get the message out there. And, and it, you know, gave me ease and it was very easy for me to, to share my story because I'm always very comfortable around fellow alcoholics because, you know, I, since the first day I came into the rooms, even on Zoom, I immediately felt like I belonged. And, you know, I, I, I, I don't know how I did it, but it just came right out. And I kind of don't even remember what I said, to be honest, but, hearing in the format, it was, you know, I spoke for a half hour and then people spoke the other half hour and hearing the people speak back to me after of how my story impacted them, you know, brought tears to my eyes because, you know, it's different on Zoom than in person. And that was my first experience in it, you know, just seeing how you can impact somebody and, you know, how there are these, you know, grown men that are like, I completely relate to you. And I'm like, how could you relate to me? You know what I mean? And I'm like, how could you relate to me? You know what I mean? And it's, it's such an amazing feeling to know that you can help other people. I'm not in the point right now where, you know, I've, I've finished my step work, but I, I'm not ready to sponsor someone, you know, cause I'm trying to continue to heal myself with things, but, you know, being able to contribute when I can, especially through like commitments and stuff, it makes me feel like I'm still spreading that message, you know, sharing in meetings and things like that. And I get so much from, you know, from everybody else in the program that I just try to give back as much as I can, as much as, as my life allows it to, with the struggles that I'm going through. And I'm just incredibly grateful for the program and I'm grateful for, for Jeff in the service. And I'm grateful to be here. Thanks. Thank you, Erin. Do we have anyone here who would like to speak or anyone who would like to comment on Kathy? Thanks. Clean J's question. I'll speak. Awesome, thank you. Annie, are you looking to speak? I saw your hand waving. Okay, one second. Annie should be able to unmute herself actually. There we go. I just did. Thanks guys. I'm really grateful to be in here. I'm a grateful member of Al-Anon and, You know, my experience has been through the big book and the 12 steps, and I am a big, big enthusiast. And I recently heard, and I don't have a lot of experience with the traditions in terms of, you know, the 12 and 12 and what have you, but my experience with the traditions is just a way of life. And I heard my grand sponsor say just a few weeks ago in a meeting, and it really captures it for me, is that giving yourself fully to the program. You know, and if I give myself fully to the program, I am living the traditions in terms of, you know, primary purpose. My primary purpose is to carry this message to family members who need help, that my job is to put their hand, you know, my job, it's not my job, it's God's job, and he uses me as a conduit to put somebody's hand in the hand of God. And that's really the way that I see it. And I don't know. The answers, I don't know. I don't know how this stuff works. Honestly, I know that just by following the program, following the examples of the people that have come before me, following, you know, following God's lead helps me to help you, helps me to help all, you know, I have two friends that, you know, recently have lost their children to this disease. And, you know. That's where God has me today. And I'm grateful that I'm able to be here to participate and hear all of your experiences through this and to really, you know, put that primary purpose as front and center in my life today is the biggest thing that I can do. Not only can I show up the way that God wants me to show up, but it keeps me out of my messiness. It keeps me out of my selfishness and self-centeredness and my self-absorption so I can be who God wants me to be for you. So, thank you. Thank you, Annie. I see another hand up here, Rebecca M. If you can unmute yourself. Hi, Rebecca, alcoholic addict. Jeff, thank you for your service. I really enjoyed listening to you. And it just, I've been around for a while. God lifted my desire to drink and drug a long time. And I hadn't fully stepped into Alcoholics Anonymous until 2017. And just in listening to everything that Jeff was talking about just made me remember that I was really grateful that stepping into 12-step recovery, you know, somebody grabbed my hand right away and welcomed me. And suggested. And it was my first sponsor, actually, that I get into action, get into business, and actually get into action, not get into business. And that it was an all-encompassing you're welcome. And having stepped into Alcoholics Anonymous more seriously recently, the welcome is there and the message has been the same. That I'm not alone. That I can have fun. But the unity of how the fellowship and the meetings and sponsor helped to get me on track with finding out about myself and having a relationship with God. And the message has been consistent for all the years. That I've been around. And I'm grateful. I'm grateful. And this workshop and this weekend has been fabulous for. I'm grateful that I'm teachable. And it's because of the unity of Alcoholics Anonymous that I can feel that for today. Thank you. Thank you, Rebecca. We have about three minutes left here. If anyone. Feels. The desire to share. Hey, Julie. I'm an alcoholic and a drug addict. My name's Russ. Um, sidekick with Marie here as a co-host, so I can't raise my hand. But, um, I wanted to say first and foremost, thank you to everybody that's put on this retreat. Um, but Jeff here in the room, man, you just gave me an education because like yourself, man, when I think of, I thought of tradition five going, it's the 12 steps. It's gotta be simple, right? And then as soon as you mentioned the three legacies bang right away, I'm like, yeah, that's it is the three like a six. No recovery is our steps service where he spoke about unity, you know? And, um, you know, Kathleen, you know, in the back of the corner, we all know that it creates a triangle and there's a circle element there. You know? And so I'm listening to you and great chair, Jeff. You nailed it. And when Kathleen spoke, you know, about coming in first, first, first night for me. Right. The night prior was the night that I was loaded. Yeah. And I came in my very first AA meeting. I remember waving my hand like this. I was shaking so bad. I was crying like a nine-year-old boy. And I said, somebody help me. I feel like I'm going to die. And right away, the meeting stopped. Stopped. The meeting stopped. And people surrounded me right away. And so right there, I'm seeing service work, right? I'm seeing unity almost in a physical form. I'm going to circle around me. And I'm seeing the 12 steps in action, right? The obvious is the 12 step. I'm seeing step three action through and through. And so that triangle was created. That was the first time. I didn't know it then, but I saw that triangle. I felt that circle around me. And that is, like Jeff said, man, again, it gave me a supreme education. That is our primary purpose. It was taught to me early on that our message is hope and our promise is freedom. And so what is hope? Hope is God. You know? That's the message that we want to outline is that the answer is God. I'm hopeless, too. I understand, kid. Stick around. We've got answers for you. And I'm grateful that it's one answer today. And that answer is a God of my understanding. So, Jeff, thank you so much, man. I love you, dude. Like Aaron, I know Jeff. And you do a lot for the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. So thank you. Thank you so much, Russ. And thank you, everyone, for being here. And Jeff, thank you for sharing your experience, strength, and hope here with us. I think it's time for us to pop back over into the main session. Thank you, everyone.